A deputy employed by the Lee County Sheriff’s office has resigned after multiple sexual harassment accusations by his female coworkers. At least ten female employees of the sheriff’s office have accused the man thus far, saying that the male staff officer groped them, kissed them and talked dirty to them.
The sheriff’s office began an internal investigation into the matter following complaints from a female lieutenant. She claimed that the officer kissed her on her lips without her consenting to the action. Nine additional women have since spoken up about the officer’s abuses.
A pregnant woman working at the sheriff’s office said that the staff officer made sexual and intimate comments to her. In general, women said that they tried to stay away from him because he was touchy and inappropriate. The man was previously removed from working in gated communities because of complaints that he spent too much time hanging around the pool areas.
The staff officer has since denied all of the sexual harassment claims lodged against him. In his resignation notice, he claimed that people were accusing him of being the sheriff’s office’s version of Kevin Spacey, Matt Lauer or other celebrities who have been revealed as sexual predators and sexual harassers.
When employees are empowered to step forward and make their voices heard about workplace sexual harassment, sexual harassers face consequences for their actions. No employee should ever have to put up with this kind of abuse.
Fortunately for victims of sexual harassment, the law is on their side. They have the right to fight back in court for financial restitution and justice when necessary.
Source: nbc-2.com, “Lee County deputy resigns amid sexual harassment allegations,” Nestor Mato, accessed March 23, 2018
